We travel to Petosky at least once a year, and this is a must stop for me. It's so cozy and we always have the best experience. Not to mention we are welcomed by the sweetest dog who loves pet rubs. Will co to he to shop local to see Tator Tot and get good books! read more

While visiting Petoskey, I always enjoy love walking around the downtown area and a bookstore is always a fun spot to check out! I love the variety that they have and even love the fact that they recently opened a new spot for used books called "The Archive" which is a few doors down. They always have great recommendations and everyone is super friendly! I definitely love shopping local so this is perfect when visiting the area. read more

Friendly and knowledgeable staff, they clearly love what they do! Amazing books and board games, we loved this little shop!

The store is so wonderful, I asked my wife to start coming to Petoskey for things like hair, nails and eyelashes, just so I can wait here for her to finish. Once an avid reader, I got away from it.... for about twenty years. I was passing by about a year ago and found myself intrigued by their storefront. The minute I went inside I was hooked. It's impossible to describe the allure but, it is fascinating and ever so welcoming a shoppe. With a healthy selection of several categories, I can easily understand why a young reader would be so attracted. The staff are a large contribution to their success. I explained the reading I enjoyed but wasn't up to date on current authors. Not only did they have some powerful suggestions for the newer writers, they also questioned why I hadn't explored similar works by older, more established novelists. They don't need a fancy coffee counter to retain customers. They do provide areas for you to relax and enjoy their books. I've been known to exercise this option, from time to time. PRO TIP: If you prefer to enjoy a frappe or latte while you read, select your reading material and slip next door to the Roast & Toast. Plenty of comfortable reading perches over there. What an eye opener. They've given me a great gift at M&E. They've helped relight my passion for reading. I am forever grateful and consider this my second home. 02/24 read more

Really nice bookstore. An author friend actually recommended it to me and we stopped by today. They have various greeting cards for $1 on sale and I bought a few of those. In the basement, there's a bathroom, a lot of puzzles and board games, and even more books. We were on a time limit today but next time I'm back in Petoskey I'd like to browse the store more. read more

we just flew in from California, via Chicago, and boy are our arms tired! this is joke that would make the upstairs/main floor salesperson laugh, I just know it! My young son and I had a ball in this bookstore that sells everything from WhoHQ (our faves!) to art supplies (downstairs) the guy at the register is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and we shared a few good laughs and short informative convos with him. they've got Harry Potter books in "Ancient Greek" and also a clock that displays the current time at Hogwarts. we checked out with a couple kids books and a few more odds and ends and were happy with the prices. the value of our purchase was great and the energy and vibes of this stores main floor were right on the money (the gals who worked downstairs were a little distant and cold but hey, what'd you expect in the Art Dept *ZINGGG* 5 stars for the main floor, but if you venture downstairs wear a heavy coat and mittens for the icy personalities below *brrr* read more

McLean & Eakin Booksellers - HOGWARTS TIME - Comic Books Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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This is one of my good friends' favorite bookstore of all time, so naturally while on a trip with her to the Petoskey area, we had to stop in and I finally got to bask in the majesty of McLean & Eakin (a hard name to remember - so we kind of combined it together into "McCleakin" LMAO!) for the first time! The result? I can 100000% see why this is my friend's favorite bookstore! From the moment you walk in, or perhaps even before given how adorable and inviting the window displays are, you are instantly enveloped in a very cozy, warm interior and aesthetic! I love all the red touches and love the way their books are organized throughout the store - AND THERE'S A BASEMENT LEVEL TOO! My head was swinging all over the place because there was just so much to look at all around me, and it probably doesn't help that I love to read books from all different sorts of genres as well! They have staff recommendations, along with different end cap displays from various listicles of bestsellers (like the NYT Bestseller list). Fiction greets you right when you walk in and the children's section is at the back of the main level, but then you got down the stairs and that's where young adult, sci-fi, fantasy, AND SO MUCH MORE reside! There's stationary, various different book accessories, the options are endless here and it really sparks my desire to cozy up to a good book and not move from a single spot all day - and I think that's the mark of an AMAZING BOOKSTORE! If I didn't already have a favorite bookstore in the whole wide world, this one would be a serious contender, but regardless, it's one of the top bookstores I've ever been to and I love McLean & Eakin for all that they are! I naturally snagged a ton of books while I was here and the delightful thing is that they also have a rewards program! If you spend a certain amount of money (I believe it's like $100), you get $10 off your next purchase and it's a receipt they print out for you to keep. They have online ordering, so for all the times I'm not in Petoskey and want to support a wonderful small business AND indie bookstore, this is one of those spots that I can shop at online and have them ship it to me! I don't believe you can use these $10 off rewards on online purchases, because my friend literally had 3 or 4 of these rewards slips saved in her wallet to use when we were there haha, but you won't hear me complaining because any excuse to make a trip out to Petoskey is one I'll take - that's for sure! read more

McLean & Eakin Booksellers - McLean & Eakin interior - so cozy & wonderful! So many books waiting to be discovered & read! - Comic Books Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Great displays. I really enjoyed my visit here last month. I bought my niece some origami paper, this place has so much more than books. Silly socks, puzzles, etc etc. I got a word search book that is continuing to satisfy my add boredom/ pass the time while the fan watches TV. Great stop in Petoskey, a don't miss it independent bookshop. read more

One of my favorite bookstores! I always have to make time to stop by when I'm in town. They have a great selection and the staff are always friendly and helpful. read more

This is one of the best bookstores I've ever been to. The staff here is amazing. The owners are great people. The store is layed out really well so it's easy to find everything. I ordered several books from here and they were shipped to my house in California for $0.99. The customer service is incredible. The staff is very knowledgable and have great recommendations. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you're in Petoskey or nearby, you MUST stop at McLean & Eakin. read more

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Right now it's pickup or by appointment only (they also order/ship online) --as of September 2020

Just walking through the door inspires a feeling of calmness and comfort. Couldn't wait to start reading the book I bought.

This is a pretty solid example of what an indie bookstore can/should be. I used to visit both a lot of book and gift stores (for a job, a well as for fun), and this was, by far, one of my favorite shops to work with in Northern Michigan. The owners and staff took great pride in the store, were good communicators, and seemed to genuinely enjoy putting together events like book signings as well as helping connect customers with the books they needed. These were knowledgeable booksellers who obviously adored books and reading. The store also had a lovely selection of paper goods, which always tempted me. Though the store appears fairly small, there is a lower level as well, which is worth checking out. I found a particularly helpful book on a specific health/nutrition topic -- I was pleasantly surprised to see it here! I sadly don't get up to this part of the state much, but if I was in the area, I would most certainly go back to McLean & Eakin again and again. read more

McLean & Eakin Booksellers - From the McLean & Eakin website - Comic Books Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

Why am I limited to only 5 stars?? I would like to double that number. I am an avid booklover and make it a point to visit indie bookstores wherever I go. Without question, this is one of the best EVER!!!! read more

This place has been a staple of my trips up north ever since I was little. It's adorable cozy and always has something you're looking for, no matter your age/interests/etc. Definitely worth a stop! read more

What a delight. I was sad to see that Horizon Books was no longer, but super stoked when I walked into this indie bookshop downtown. I have to say, the place was larger than it looked from the street. I was giddy because there was no shortage of interesting stuff here. This place was great. It reminded me a bit of the old Young and Welshans bookstore (it bit the dust ages ago) that we used to have in Flint when I was a kid. To me, that was the gold standard for indie bookstores and this was very similar to that concept. It also reminded me a lot of Literati Books (which I just so happen to adore) in Ann Arbor, minus the coffee shop upstairs. Spanning a couple of floors (like I said, it was definitely larger than it appeared to be from the street), I was happy to see such a diverse stock, from local authors and popular fiction to a table filled with autographed copies of several books, most of which appeared to have been done during book signing events at the store. That was a definite plus. I liked how they displayed that for customers. The lower level was chock full of interesting stuff, including a nice little wall devoted to all things Hemingway. Obviously, with his links to the area, they had a decent Ernest Hemingway section, stocked with his novels, literary criticism of his works, biographies of him and much more, as well as a very well-curated area nearby devoted to his literary contemporaries, like F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc. I was all kinds of happy when I started looking around the lower level because they not only had a well-developed section on Lost Generation authors and poetry, but they had a decent selection of new vinyl, a small, but pretty fleshed-out coffee table book/non-fiction section, and several cozy little nooks for reading. Aside from that, they had a bunch of cute journals, calendars, gift ware, and other interesting writing accessories as well. For an independent bookshop, I was surprised at how good the prices were. They were lower than I had expected them to be. The more I looked around, the more it reminded of the bygone days of the old Young and Welshans of my childhood back home. Customer service definitely seemed to be a key component of how they conducted business and I appreciated that. Despite how busy they were (they were pretty swamped), staff members were very helpful and accommodating, even downright friendly and personable. I had employees ask me if I needed anything, not in an annoying or obnoxious way, while browsing and one mentioned that they could order something for me if I wanted. Lines moved quickly, which was surprising. Walmart could take a cue from these people, just saying. I really wish this shop was closer to home, but since it isn't, it gives me extra incentive to visit Petoskey again very soon. I think the only thing that could have made this shop better would have been if they had a cafe attached, but since there are so many good coffee places around, it really isn't needed. read more

Tried twice to visit this store, both times they were closed due to covid, although other book stores in the area were open. I can order online from Amazon. I enjoy visiting indie bookstores, and spent over $200 in both of the ones I was able to go in and browse. Seems in this case your fears cost you a good sale. Moving on to the next one. Not sure I'll revisit. read more

Ol KM loves to go here and get my Spiderman and Avengahs comix. They have chairs that can fit a bigger guy like myself and wont judge you even if you are just in there to read a book or two. Tehy carry a wide variaty of masalami cookbooks and books on how to make it as a innahnet rapper. JUNE-17 UPDATE - Alright guys here's the situation. I let my subs at McLean and Eakin lapse a month cause of last month's trip. That was a steep penny. Few other things happened too. And I still owe my mother alot of money and I doubt I'll be able to pay it all off this week. I had to set up a donation page for me to make some extra cash and that kinda stress put me back on the Fetzima. Ya see I dont like being lebeled and if you lebel a person a democrat when they are clearly a bernie-supporting anarchist, you can cause a LOT OF F'N STRESS. Now i need more comicx and I have no money read more

Recommended and gave personal insight on incredible books that I'd never heard of and had a great selection of other products such as vinyl records and tabletop games. Excited to go back! read more

Its as good as it gets for an independent book store- the kind of place that helps define what the town of Petoskey is all about, in a good way. The clerks were friendly and helpful, offering to escort me downstairs to the biography section. I bought Marcus Samuelsson's new one- Yes, Chef. This book store was mentioned in a lovely NYT article about Petoskey: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/t-magazine/23talk-michigan-t.html read more

Good costumer service, very helpful when asking for something, recommend to anybody who visits Petoskey

I've been to indie bookstores all over the country and this is one of the best! An absolute gem!

This store really came through for us in a pinch. We found out last minute that we needed books for summer school that would not arrive from any online stores until at least 4 days after class started. I called McLean & Eakin, they were extremely responsive, spent time calling around the country, and got the books overnighted from the west coast to our doorstep. This was something that none of the big, online operations were able (or willing) to do. Personal touches from independent bookstores can never be replaced, shop local whenever possible. You can also shop from home and pick up your books right outside the door during COVID-19 concerns, quick and easy. read more

I attended a Wade Rouse writing workshop sponsored by McLean & Eakin six years ago. The staff of the bookstore has supported my new career as a writer every step of the way. Today my first three books are proudly displayed on the store's Michigan Writers shelf. As both a reader and writer, I highly recommend McLean & Eakin. I can't imagine living in Petoskey without this vibrant business. read more

This is just like the small independent bookstore in You've Got Mail." Everyone there is not just super friendly, they're extremely knowledgeable about their inventory. Tell them three books you've enjoyed and they'll recommend a dozen more that will fit your interests. Don't miss visiting here! read more

One of the country's finest independent bookstores. The staff remembers your name and are always full of good suggestions. Lots of terrific author events (I met Ann Pachett there) and other fun stuff- why can't all bookstores be like this... read more

Very cool. Great place to hang out while the rest of the extended family samples jams and such around town. Wonderful comics section. Not just a bunch of standard dc and marvel superhero mags. Well curated! read more

Go here. Great selection, reasonable prices and staff that actually reads classics, sci fi and everything in between. Buy local, keep it local. Parking out front and check out the sale section read more

This bookstore was featured in the book My Bookstore and is best-selling author Ann Patchett's favorite bookstore. It lived up to Ann's wonderful description! I introduced myself to the store's owner and after a bit of chit-chat, he asked what I'd been reading recently. Based on that, he recommended several books (see! this is why we need independent bookstores!). I just finished The Sense of an Ending and he was spot on. There's a cozy fireplace, always welcome staff recommendations bookshelf, and a helpful book passionate staff. Plus Roast and Toast, an equally cozy coffee shop and restaurant, is right next door. There's another bookstore in town, but McLean & Eakin's gets my vote. read more

This place has been "my" bookstore since I was a kid. The layout is great - a little cramped on the upper floor, but I love a cozy-feeling bookstore! The basement is my favorite, with comfy chairs and nonfiction books and ever-expanding stationery selection. I've ordered books through them that were not yet on their shelves; they came in within two weeks and I received a phone call promptly thereafter. I shop here often - there's such a variety of things here, from books to journals to notecards, that you can't help but find a perfect gift for someone (or yourself hehe!). read more

My hands down favorite book store. They have a huge selection, a great atmosphere, and the best staff ever. This place came highly recommended for my first trip to Petoskey, and nothing disappointed. They have multiple levels, all filled with beautiful, amazing books. The staff is super helpful too; there was a couple of people that asked my favorite book, authors, genre, etc. to offer some great suggestions for my next read. I would live in this place if I could. read more

Top notch cozy independent book store. Will say that "Katie B's" comment below reminded me that I've been ushered out hurriedly twice when they are ready to close, too. It's a small thing (easily fixed or handled more diplomatically, too, if anyone who works there actually reads reviews...), so I'm sticking to my 5-stars. read more

Phenomenal bookstore in downtown Petoskey! The store spans across two floors and the overall atmosphere is relaxed and approachable. While they aren't as spacious as big name bookstores, they truly have an excellent breadth and depth of books (genres, age groups, et cetera)! The staff have always been very friendly and willing to help. They're knowledgable and passionately enthusiastic about books, which really adds to the atmosphere of the store and makes each visit even better. :) read more

Excellant bookstore. The ppl that work here are friendly bookworms. That's a real compliment. Not snooty. Very helpful without being up your butt while you browse. There are visiting author signings and other events for ppl of all reading and book levels. They have a great selection on Hemingway, who is a local folk hero, having grown up and been a member of the local community for his whole life. If you don't dig this shop, you're not a true book person. read more

A great, great bookstore. I save my book shopping for my northern Michigan vacations and stock up for the rest of the year. It's a wonderful place to spend time, perusing books, talking to the staff about what they'd recommend, and picking up book-related gift items. They have a great kids' section, a very solid cookbook section and an incredible selection fo new releases. read more

Beautiful bookstore with good selection. You need a beach read, right? Of course you do....,

A fantastic place. A deep knowledge guides the selection, the employes are joyfully helpful and I always find myself surprised to find something I never thought I would fine. No better example of a great bookstore. read more

Now on my short list for favorite bookstores. Well run by people who love books but understand the practicalities of running a successful independent bookstore. No surprise they get so many major authors here even though it's off the beaten path. read more

This is a truly great independently owned local bookstore. The selection is good and the staff are incredibly helpful. The kids section is awesome! read more

This is my favorite book store on the planet. I always get fabulous customer service and recommendations.